the hills to the eastward. They had now gained a rise of
ground from which with a field-glass the fort might have been seen. But
the young captain's glass was gone--confiscated, as already told, by
those who had first attacked him.

"We will draw closer with caution," said the young officer. "We don't
want to walk into any trap."

Less than a mile was covered, when Peck, who had been sent out in
advance, came back and called for silence.

"Some Indians are ahead," he said.

"How many of them?" questioned Captain Moore.

"Not less than a dozen or fifteen, captain. I counted eleven, and heard
some talking that I couldn't see."

"Where are they?"

"Down behind where the brook flows over those sawtooth rocks. We were
out there fishing last summer."

"I know the spot you mean. What are the redskins doing?"

"Nothing in particular. I overheard one say to another that he expected
White Ox along before sundown."

"They must be an advance guard of the tribe, then," returned the young
officer thoughtfully. "Did any of them see you?"

"I don't think they did."

But in this Peck was mistaken, for scarcely had the soldiers started to
walk around the spot where the Indians were encamped, when a savage
war-whoop rang out, followed by half a dozen shots.

The first round was a deadly one, killing two of the men and wounding
Peck in the side. A bullet likewise grazed Captain Moore's shoulder.

"To cover!" shouted the young officer, as soon as he could speak. "The
Indians are on us!"

He had a gun in his hand, and as he gave the command he leveled it at
the leader of the party, he who had killed one of the soldiers. Captain
Moore's aim was true, and the Indian fell lifeless over the very body of
the man he had slain.

By this time the other Indians were coming up, and all the soldiers
could do was to take to the nearest cover, as the captain had ordered.
The warwhoops continued, and shots were fired from several directions.

Scarcely knowing whether he was hit or not, Captain Moore dashed into
the midst of some brushwood, and not far away from him came Peck. The
latter had broken his rifle over the head of one of the red men, and now
advanced with the hunting-knife which was still in his possession. The
young captain held a rifle, but just now had no time in which to reload
the weapon.

"They are after us hot-like!" cried Peck, after several hundred feet had
been covered.

The private's breath came short and shar